Arts and science patron and businessman Christopher Mace (Ngāti Porou, Te-Whānau-ā-Apānui) won the Aotearoa New Zealand Māori Business Leaders premier award for 2011, awarded in April this year. He was the first in the event’s history to be specifically honoured for visual arts and scientific endeavour.

The Auckland-based businessman, who started his career with his family construction firm at the age of 15, is – with his wife Dayle – a well-known arts patron and a longstanding supporter of both the visual arts and theatre communities.

He is also deeply involved in fisheries and marine science, having played a major part in establishing the University of Auckland’s Leigh Marine Centre and as chairman of the Crown research institute ESR, the New Zealand Antarctic Institute and the Antarctic Heritage Trust. He was appointed chairman of the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Niwa) in 2009.

Made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) in 2004 for services to Antarctica and the community, Mr Mace built up his wealth in the 1980s with property company Mace Developments, which later became part of Lion Corporation. 

He has been a director of more than 50 companies.

He was the head of patrons for the NZ Venice Biennale in 2009 and with his wife is the major donor of the Walters Prize. 

He is involved with the Auckland Art Gallery, the Auckland Theatre Company, the Auckland Writers and Readers Festival, the Arts Foundation and is a patron of the SCAPE Christchurch Biennial.

The Velas have prominence in the thoroughbred breeding industry but it was with fish that they had their successful beginnings.

It all started when Filip Vela arrived in New Zealand from a village on the Dalmatian Coast in 1929 and began fishing. Today, Vela Fishing – founded by sons Philip and Peter – has grown into one of New Zealand’s largest privately-owned fishing companies. 

The brothers, now Geneva-based, have expanded their interests into the equine arena. And they maintain New Zealand family connections through their local ventures. Waikato-based Pencarrow Stud, known for its successful breeding and racing record, is owned by the Velas. They also own New Zealand Bloodstock, which hosts the annual star-studded thoroughbred yearling sales at Karaka. It’s at New Zealand Bloodstock that Tory works as hospitality coordinator, while glamorous society hostess Petrea Vela is co-director.

Petrea Vela said she was pleased with results from this year’s three-day sale at Karaka. It grossed $19,114, 500 with an average price of $46,069. Both figures were up less than 1 % on last year. The clearance rate was recorded at 74% – compared to 73% in 2011.

That was a good enough result for Petrea Vela. 

“To have exceeded last year’s aggregate and average while maintaining a stronger clearance rate is a great result. Overall, I think we can be very satisfied with how the week has gone, given the climate,” she said.

Birthday boy Bruce Plested was the giver of gifts, rather than the recipient, when he celebrated his 70th.

Mr Plested, Mainfreight founding owner and executive chairman, splurged $4 million on his staff when he reached septuagenarian status in March. Every employee who had been with Mainfreight for more than one year received $1000 tax free in their pay packet. That saw some 4000 of his 5000 “Mainfreight family” members qualify.

He could afford to dig deep. Mainfreight, itself now 34 years old, announced a record full year profit before abnormals of $65.75 million for the year ended 31 March – an increase of 39.2% over the previous year. 

Sales revenues were also at record levels: $1.81 billion – up nearly half a billion, or 35.2% on the previous year – and still tracking toward its goal of doubling its annual revenue to $2 billion by 2015.

In the email to his staff to mark his 70th, Mr Plested outlined his appreciation and his outlook on life. “I have never felt fitter, nor had greater peace of mind than I have in recent years,” he said. “This peace of mind is very much as a result of the success of the Mainfreight family, not only with our striving for quality, growth and profit but also caring for each other and our communities, and in trying to make a difference.”

He later explained his decision in a television interview, saying: “I think capitalism hasn’t shown its best face over the last few years and I think a few more people being a bit more generous of spirit won’t do us all any harm.”

Mr Plested, however, was not so generous of conversation when approached by NBR. Other than to confirm his quote, he chose not to comment.

The car dealer and super-yachtsman can now add an “Oscar” and a royal visit of sorts to his credits list. He was also the recipient of a Queen’s Birthday honour.

Neville Crichton, who is based in Sydney, this year received the Legacy Award in the annual World Superyacht Awards for his contribution to that industry. The awards are considered an Oscar of the international yachting arena. Mr Crichton earned the Legacy for “his instrumental role in the establishment and growth of the New Zealand superyacht building industry, his leading position in the world of superyacht racing, his generosity of spirit and his inspiration to others in these fields.” 

In June, he was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to yachting and business.

On dry land, his three-level mansion in the top Sydney suburb of Vaucluse, named Portofino, became holiday home to Microsoft pioneer and philanthropist Bill Gates and family. The Gates were staying for a month but rented the place for three, to allow the installation and removal of high-tech gadgetry and security measures. Rent was said to be $A25,000 a week.

Mr Crichton’s luxury auto importing business, the Ateco group, lost some and won some. Chrysler Australia Group took over the New Zealand distribution of Fiat and Alfa Romeo vehicles – ending a 10-year association with Ateco. Soon after that announcement, Ateco announced it would distribute the Lotus range in Australia and New Zealand. Plans included driver training modelled on the Lotus Driving Academy, using tracks in Australia and New Zealand.

Mr Crichton, who himself raced cars before turning to yachting had his first win in 1967. He was 19 when he entered a Cortina in a Benson and Hedges six hour hill climb event and won his class. That, he says, was the start of his life-time love of cars. 

It has been a long road for this New Zealand family. In 2012, its company, which built many New Zealand motorways, celebrates its centenary.

The Stevenson Group consists of five separate operating companies with the Stevenson name linked to engineering, construction materials (including the recently-named Stevenson concrete), agriculture, resources, mining and properties.

The company employs 500 in New Zealand, with a small office in Australia.

It recently launched literacy and numeracy programmes for them, finding this boosts their communication skills, productivity and lowers staff turnover.

Quarrying forms a major part of operations, with it having three quarries, including New Zealand’s largest at Drury, which supplies around one quarter of Auckland’s aggregate needs with an estimated economic benefit of about $40-$50 million a year.

It also owns the 14,000ha Lochinver Station southeast of Taupo which runs 1000 Angus breeding cows as well as 25,000 Perendales, which produce more than 165,000kg of wool a year.

Stevenson Group has a history of road-building, such as constructing Auckland’s Southern motorway, and recently widening some of it to dual-four lanes, and building the SH1 ALPURT motorways extension to Orewa.

It has other major development plans at hand, with it pushing for development of 360ha, sited between its Drury Quarry and the Southern Motorway. Facing some local opposition, the Drury South project is working its way through the consents process. 

The family firm that started in a garage now spreads its tentacles around the world.

But this year has not been as good as the last for the Robinsons, who hold a major stake in Rakon. The manufacturer of crystal oscillators used in smart phones and navigation systems reported

Some thought his time was up. But Sir Ron Brierley has proved otherwise.

In late May, he survived a

Some thought his time was up. But Sir Ron Brierley has proved otherwise.

In late May, he survived a shareholder challenge to his re-election to the board of Guiness Peat Group (GPG) by the slimmest of margins – 50.75% of the votes.

Just a few months before, he had seized control of the ASX-listed Mercantile Investment Co.

He then got together some of his old Brierley buddies, Ron Langley and Gary Weiss, who each put up a $A1 million placement for Mercantile. The company’s market value has been put at $A18.3 million.

Sir Ron’s re-election to the GPG board had been opposed by the New Zealand Shareholders Association, which said GPG had failed under his chairmanship in recent times.

Association chairman John Hawkins said Sir Ron had not adapted to the changing environment.

Sir Ron, 74, said he was pleased to be re-elected and vowed to do his best for the company he founded.

But the man described as the last of the corporate raiders is dealing with a considerably different pack from the one he originally dealt when he founded his first company, Brierley Investments, in 1961.

GPG, chaired by Rob Campbell since Sir Ron ceded the chair in 2010, is going through a slow-motion wind-down. That is something to which its founder has previously voiced opposition.

Sir Ron, who sold his art collection and Oriental Bay home in 2010, is now based in Sydney. However, he has maintained his Wellington links by re-connecting with another facet of his past.

He was recently identified, together with ex-Brierley Investment chairman Sir Selwyn Cushing, as a co-investor in the noble but struggling Wellington department store and property owner Kirkcaldie & Stains.

Although still an active board member at Ryman Healthcare, Kevin Hickman’s most recent successes have been on the racetrack. Mr Hickman and his wife Joanna own Valachi Downs, an 87 hectare horse breeding station in Matamata.

After pocketing his $90
million share from the sale of Metropolitan Glass, Cameron Gregory has built steadily on his wealth.

One of a triumvirate (with fellow NBR Rich listers John Bedogni and Andrew Smith) who sold the glass company in its heyday, Mr Gregory has gone on to build a diversified portfolio of property.

His personal wealth has grown accordingly: worth $60 million in 2010, he more than doubled that to $135 million last year.

He has interests both locally and internationally. Local interests include holdings in Broadway (Newmarket) and Albany and, through Tempaland Nominees, (once more with Mr Bedogni
and Mr Smith) properties in East Tamaki and Avondale.

Described as an intensely private, quiet achiever, Mr Gregory has a choice of bolt holes should he choose to avoid public glare. There is the Clifton Rd, Hauraki, family home (valued at $13,800,000), and a nearby abode, valued at $3,250,000. Mr Cameron also owns an “art masterpiece” holiday home in Paroa Bay, Russell, which was advertised for sale at $8,750,000.

The multiple-living area six- bedroomed home includes three- bedroomed caretaker’s quarters with a garage – advertised as being currently used for the caretaker. 

Three generations of Barfoots are involved in family-owned Auckland real estate agency Barfoot & Thompson.

Garth Barfoot is the youngest son of company founder, Val Barfoot. Mr Barfoot has been a director since 1968.

With no new branches opened in the last three years, he says the biggest changes in the company have been the introduction of new technologies.

Electronic lock boxes now record details of home viewings, buyers can access legal and local authority property details electronically and a new property management computer system has been installed to give landlords and tenants better access to information.

Mr Barfoot says although no new branches have been opened in the past three years a resurgence in home construction should change that pattern soon.

With more than 50 years of experience in real estate, he has seen buyers’ tastes and trends change over the years.

He says when he started selling houses US-style ranch homes were a buyer’s dream, then as the 20th century wore on, Mediterranean styles were the rage and now “inner suburban American homes” are in season.

Mr Barfoot says these homes are characterised by small, easy-care sections, which means interiors are frequently spread over two stories.

He says another change was the increasing presence of women in the company’s offices. This year women outnumbered men for the first time in the company’s top 12 salespeople.

He recalls working at Barfoot & Thompson during school holidays when there was only one woman salesperson at the company, working in the specialist business department.

Family wealth certainly helps when starting out, says Peter Thompson. “I wouldn’t be in the position I am today if it wasn’t for the foresight of the first generation of the company setting the platform.”

Mr Thompson, managing director of Barfoot & Thompson, is a third generation member of the largest family-owned real estate company in New Zealand.

He says that in order to protect the amily fortune, it’s wise to invest in three sectors: housing, money in the bank and: “if you want to risk it, shares.”

He urges people not to over-commit when entering the property market. It is better to buy in a lesser suburb with a smaller mortgage than to think big from the outset, he says. “It’s not just about housing; it’s about the ability to repay loans and have a good life.”

He has led by example: starting out with a house on the “south side” of Remuera and slowly making his way up to a more salubrious spot the family now occupies in the same suburb. There is also a Coromandel holiday home.

For all his advice, some buyers are still writing big cheques. Barfoot & Thompson recorded a 36% increase in the number of homes selling for $2 to $3 million in the 12 months ending February 2012.

Mr Thompson says there was also a steady market in homes selling in the $3-4 million range, with 20 sold in the past two years, along with 10 in the $5 million and over category.

 

Last year, James Stewart Kirkpatrick spoke of his company having never been busier.

It continues to defy trying climes in 2012. The James Kirkpatrick Group – of which
the 81-year-old founder is sole shareholder – is successfully sticking to its knitting. The pattern first set half a century ago and articulated by Mr Kirkpatrick

is to build industrial buildings. The latest example is what is said to be one of the biggest newly- constructed industrial facilities in Auckland – a large portion
of which is leased by cosmetics company L’Oreal.

The 12,000sq m warehouse
and office complex in Otahuhu, Auckland, is something of a rarity in these straitened times: few significant industrial facilities in Auckland have been built of late. “The Kirkpatrick Group has been one of a few industrial landlords to take a strategic and counter-cynical approach to the recession and has used the past 18 months to build spec facilities, when most other landlords have been requiring pre-commitment from tenants in order to commence construction,” a Colliers broker told the New Zealand Herald. Further schemes included a 7000sq m shed in Mangere. 

 

Three generations of Barfoots are involved in family-owned Auckland real estate agency Barfoot & Thompson. Garth Barfoot is the youngest son of company founder, Val Barfoot. Mr Barfoot has been a director since 1968. With no new branches opened in the last three years, he says the biggest changes in the company have been the introduction of new technologies.

Since going their own ways after selling one of the country’s first privately owned ISPs, iHug, for a $82 million in 2003, the Wood brothers have developed separate businesses on different continents.

Nic’s Distinctive Holiday Homes is a Destination Club business based in California. Members pay $US15,000 to join and then annual fees of $US5900 for the privilege of having holidays at the company’s luxury properties or on superyacht cruises. Locations range from apartments in London, Paris and New York through to a villa in Tuscany and a chalet in the French Alps. Countries as diverse as Morocco, Bali, Japan and the island of Grenada in the West Indies are also on offer, as well as Mr Wood’s own Octopus Resort in Fiji and homes in Queenstown and Noosa.

Tim and Sasha Wood, meanwhile, have moved on from their Dordoyne residence in France to put down roots in Mumbai, India. There they are “doing a marigold” – building a lakeside boutique resort hotel in the historic tourist city of Udaipur, Rajasthan, location for the hit movie The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. The film is about British retirees who travel there to take up residence in what they believe is a newly restored hotel. The Woods have an interest in the film business, having helped produce the Kiwi thriller I’m Not Harry Jenson through their one-third owned company Four Knight’s Film. The company’s latest effort is The Dark Horse, which is in pre-production. In the past year, the Woods sold their grand circa-1890 Italianate residence in Sydney after buying it sight unseen for $A4.76 million and then doing it up. They also own properties in Auckland, including inner city buildings in O’Connor and High streets that have been put up for auction. Mr Wood retains his interest in IT as a director of internet search company Zingseo.com.

Rod Drury has gone from Xero to hero with his online accounting software provider. His company took top prize at Wellington’s Gold Awards – considered the region’s premier business awards – in June. Xero also took the global gold award for exporters and service companies. 

There wouldn’t be anybody in the Bay of Plenty or beyond who didn’t know about the dealings of Paul Adams. 

If it wasn’t his business – Carrus Corporation Ltd – they recognised, they may make the link through his golfing connections – his company sponsors the Carrus Tauranga Open. 

Founded in 1990, Carrus is said to be one of the largest land development operations on the Bay of Plenty region. Mr Adams’ company has a reach that extends to Hamilton, Taupo, Rotorua, Palmerston North and Wellington.

Mr Adams, who has a civil engineering degree, established his own practice in civil engineering and became heavily involved in arbitration and contract law before turning to land development. The company website says it produces 200 to 300 lots a year and sells an average 200 lots a year.

In April, Carrus came to the rescue of one of the country’s largest housing subdivisions, the 250ha Lakes residential community on the outskirts of Tauranga.

Carrus, through its newly-established The Lakes 2012 Ltd, bought the site from the receivers for an undisclosed price. The original developers owed about $100 million to its first mortgagor. 

Shareholders in The Lakes Ltd include Hibros Ltd, of which fellow NBR Rich Lister the Higgins family is an owner.

The three-stage subdivision was originally expected to house 6000 people. At the time of purchase, a total of 522 titles had been sold, with 1273 lots still to be built.

A private passion of Glen Inger was revealed last year when he paid $15,000 for an old rugby jersey. 

Mr Inger, a property developer and former Warehouse shareholder, paid $15,050 for the “Kiwis” rugby jersey, worn by All Black legend Sir Fred “The Needle” Allen. Sir Fred wore it during the 1945-46 tour of Britain, Ireland, France and Germany. The successful bid had a double benefit: the money bolstered Christchurch earthquake relief funds – and Mr Inger, who collects memorabilia, got to meet Sir Fred before his death in April this year.

Mr Inger has extensive land holdings, reaching from Auckland north to Wellsford, Whangarei and the Kaipara. He also has a 266ha forestry block, as well as a multi-million home in Takapuna and a resort on Fiji’s Toberua Island.

As well as having extensive dairy farm interests, he is a director and shareholder of Cresta Mushrooms.

His vast art collection is well-settled into its new home and part of his meat business has been sold. But the septuagenarian Sir James Wallace is hardly putting his feet up.

Indeed, the opening of the TSB Bank Wallace Arts Centre, which houses more than 5000 of his contemporary art pieces, has come at a price – to Sir James himself. When the centre in Auckland’s Pah Homestead opened, the target number of visitors was put at 15,000 visitors in the first year, building to 25,000 in the third. After just 20 months of operation, the venue has received 217,000 visitors. But with admission by koha – and averaging between 10c and 15c a head – that’s significantly below expectations. “It’s ironic,” says Sir James. “I’m personally making up the deficit.”

His remaining business, The Wallace Corporation, has been capitalising and expanding in a big way and Sir James is still closely involved. He also maintains a close association with a large number of charitable organisations. 

It is here that he holds some concerns for the future. Sir James – who funds the annual eponymous arts awards – calls it “the loss of philanthropy.” Some new young members of the wealthy set are not supporting the arts, he says.

“Many are much richer than we were at their age – they have absolutely exorbitant salaries – but they seem to be ploughing it back into themselves, rather than society.”

Failure to do so, he says: “is to the detriment of arts organisations struggling for funds, and therefore the health of the cultural side of life – which is fundamental to the health of the country and community.”

He and others of his ilk have vowed to try to get the new generation to follow in their footsteps.

And if they don’t? “Certainly, in some situations, some arts organisations would have to reduce their activities. It’s not as if the government or local bodies are increasing their funding – far from it.”

Their paths were supposedly set in stone but the Giesen boys took off on a whim instead.

Rather than follow their German forefathers into the stone masonry business, Alex and Theo Giesen left their homeland and travelled to New Zealand. 

They bought some land and planted a vineyard on the Canterbury Plains, because it reminded them of home.

It was 1981. Nobody had planted a vineyard that far south. Most everyone thought they were mad. (Not their brother Marcel, however, who later joined them, after becoming a qualified winemaker.)

Now their company, Giesen Wines – of which all three brothers are directors – is one of the country’s largest wine producers. The family business has relocated to Marlborough, where it has 291 hectares and 13 vineyards in the region. Their Blenheim winery has the ability to process more than 7000 tonnes of grapes and a tank capacity of 8.5 million litres. Their wines are exported widely, and they have marketing staff in situ in Australia, North America and Europe.

The Giesen label boasts a multitude of wine awards, including gold for their 2010 The Brothers chardonnay at this year’s Royal Easter Show wine awards; also best Australasian sauvignon blanc for their 2010 The Brothers Malborough sauvignon blanc in the 18th Australasian Winestate Magazine Awards.

In December, it opened it first cellar door. There, it has installed Enomatic wine-serving machines, which use argon gas to stop opened wine oxidising.

Although its members like to keep a low personal profile, the Pandey family’s acquisitions are there for all to see. The Auckland-based family has vast commercial hotel property holdings, which it continues to build on. It recently took a controlling interest in the rebranded Sofitel Auckland – formerly the troubled Westin. 

The family has bought the management rights and leases at the Lighter Quay site and put all the strata titles under one corporate identity. Management of the hotel has been negotiated on a contractual basis with French hotel operator Accor.

The deal sees the Pandeys own some suites, as well as the restaurants, cafes, reception and conference venues in the hotel. 

They can add that to the list of 19 other hotels around the country that they own, including the Mercure Hotels in Auckland (two), Wellington (two) and Dunedin, also the All Seasons Ellerslie Motor Inn, the All Seasons Remuera and the Base Backpackers – all in Auckland.

The private family business operates under the name CP Group, which stands for Charles Pandey, who lives in Sydney, Singapore and Auckland. His son Prakash has a bachelor of commerce from Auickland University. CP Group operates out of the Dingwall Building, which it also owns, in the heart of the Auckland CBD.

The Pandeys have a home in the modest suburb of Mt Roskill, close to the southwestern motorway. The property is valued at $570,000.

It may not have been the best Christmas present, but Peter Huljich accepted it and resolved to “move on.” 

On December 20, Mr Huljich was fined $112,500 in the Auckland District Court after pleading guilty to breaches of the Security Act. The KiwiSaver provider company he directed, Huljich Wealth Management, was fined $239,000 and also ordered to pay $95,000 towards the prosecution court costs.

The charges related to the defendants’ misrepresentation of the performance of Huljich Wealth Management’s KiwiSaver scheme. Huljich had ‘topped up’ performance figures, the court heard.

Despite his claim outside court that he was looking forward to moving on, Mr Huljich has not yet ended his association with the courts. Last July, the finance company NZF Money – of which Huljich is a director – collapsed, owing investors $16.4 million.

Mr Huljich now faces, together with four fellow directors, proceedings alleging a breach of fiduciary duty. 

A freezing order against the company’s parent, NZF Group, was granted in April. The group’s lawyer said the plaintiff – receivers KordaMentha – was looking to “freeze the very lifeblood” of the company and its ability to buy and sell investments.

The collapse is also being investigated by the Serious Fraud Office and the Financial Markets Authority. As well, the FMA is considering freezing the assets of the five directors – a move independent of the freezing order granted against NZF Group.

In April, Mr Huljich increased his beneficial interest in Diligent Board Member Services from under 5% to 7.12%. 

Last year, Patrick Higgins got a knighthood. In April, he was inducted into the Business Hall of Fame. Sir Patrick, 73, heads the Higgins Group, founded by his Irish father in 1951 and still in family hands today. He is chairman and co-owner; brother Bernard is managing director. The Palmerston-North based company is one of the leading roading construction and civil contracting specialists in the country. It has 1200 employees throughout the North Island and upper South Island. Recent works include completion of the Taupiri link of the Ngaruawahia Bypass in December last year; it was also an alliance partner in Auckland’s Victoria Park tunnel project.

The Higgins name is attached to numerous land holdings and commercial ventures, among them a $14.4 million commercial block in East Tamaki, belonging to one of its investment companies, Highbrook Drive Nominees.

Sir Patrick, along with his wife, Lady Kay, has a strong philanthropic presence in their region and beyond. They are big contributors to the Manawatu Rugby Academy and also support the Arohanui Hospice Trust, the Manawatu Cancer Society and the Louise Perkins Foundation.

Sir Patrick was also an integral player in the construction of Manfield Park.

In an interview with the Manawatu Standard in May, he indicated plans to wind down. Bernard Higgins would take over as chairman, he said.

One of the original investors in TradeMe, Wellington-based investor Richard Abbott continues to support a range of New Zealand start-ups, primarily through angel investor Movac.

Through his shareholding in Cavom Nominee No 1 (held in conjunction with other Movac investors including Dion Mortensen, Philip McCaw and Mark Richter), Mr Abbot has a stake in such companies as EBUS, Flossie Media and NZ Girl, Crema Capital, Pacific Fibre, GiveALittle, PowerbyProxi, MigCo Pharmaceuticals and Minimonos. He also wns properties in Seatoun and TeAro. He is one of the names behind trans-Pacific data cable start-up Pacific Fibre, aiming to break the 50% Telecom-owned Southern Cross Cable’s monopoly on New Zealand’s broadband connection to the outside world. That company is at a standstill after failing so far to raise $400 million to build the cable and was still in talks at this publication’s deadline.